Binder sheets were one of the phenomena of that period. Colorful pages featuring favorite cartoon characters, bands, and actors not only pleased the eye but also served as hard currency in exchanges in school corridors or on playgrounds. The most valuable ones were kept in plastic sleeves to prevent damage. Binders contained personal collections as well as duplicates reserved for trading.

In my collection, the most valuable were those featuring Disney characters. In 1994, when “The Lion King” was released, sheets with that motif became a hit. Simba, Mufasa, Pumbaa, and Timon captured our imagination. In search of sheets featuring their images, we ventured to increasingly distant stationery shops. Unfortunately, most often only random designs were available—far less exciting. Then trading became the solution. If someone had the sought-after motif, they could dictate the terms—one “Lion King” sheet in exchange for two or even three others.

Basia, born 1987